Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IME most of the kids that go to afterschool enrichment would otherwise be in aftercare on those days. At least in the programs my son is in. When I do pickup the vast majority of the class has been released to aftercare.

Is it possible that what you're seeing isn't due to lack of interest among families who don't stay for aftercare but rather is due to lack of transportation home after an enrichment activity and/or lack of funds to pay for it, and those kids who would otherwise like to participate are instead riding the bus home where a grandparent or other relative cares for them for free?

Anonymous wrote:My kids are at Drew and there are some enrichment offerings but not a huge number (I think chess, karate, and maybe a couple others). I've heard from a PTA member that they have trouble filling the classes and then the classes can't go forward. Drew does offer a late bus, so I don't know that transportation is the issue.

Anonymous wrote:IME most of the kids that go to afterschool enrichment would otherwise be in aftercare on those days. At least in the programs my son is in. When I do pickup the vast majority of the class has been released to aftercare.

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Anonymous wrote:My kids went to a Title I south Arlington elementary school. My theory was that, given the limited time my husband and I had to volunteer, we'd rather spend it doing things other than fundraising. We donated $500 a year to the PTA and spent our time doing actual activities (chaperoning field trips, working the book fair, doing set-up or clean-up for school events) that they needed help for instead of lots of time on fundraisers that are time-intensive relative to what they raise. We also responded whenever possible to teacher requests for art or science materials, sent in coats and clothes to the school social worker to distribute, donated extra school supplies, etc.

Related question. I read posts about how NA schools have enrichment and clubs and after school activities, whereas SA elementaries generally have social assistance programs and test prep, and pretty much nothing else. Is that actually true or just an exaggeration? Are those enrichment activities paid for and organized by the PTA/parents or is it based on how individual school decide to spend an allotment from the district?

The north Arlington elementary schools that I am familiar with offer enrichment classes that are sourced by enrichment coordinator volunteers, but the parents of kids taking the classes pay for them. The vendors offering the classes are independent of the schools. Volunteers oversee some things like chess and journalism clubs. In middle school there is some of this as well, but kids are also encouraged to come up with their own clubs and find a teacher who will agree to chaperone after school.

Thanks. Can you say more about enrichment coordinator volunteers? Who they are, what they do?

At the beginning of the school year, or end of the previous one, the pta sends out emails requesting volunteers for various positions, including enrichment coordinator. I don’t know everything that is involved with position, but they find vendors, match them with a space in the school, advertise the offerings to parents and organize the sign up and payment process.

This is exactly how it works at our SA elementary. The problem is that they might arrange 7-8 possible enrichment courses each semester, but only half of them get filled. I assume some of the lower-income families either can't afford the cost outright, or can't make the transportation arrangements, since there is no late bus service. This is one downside of our otherwise excellent school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to a Title I south Arlington elementary school. My theory was that, given the limited time my husband and I had to volunteer, we'd rather spend it doing things other than fundraising. We donated $500 a year to the PTA and spent our time doing actual activities (chaperoning field trips, working the book fair, doing set-up or clean-up for school events) that they needed help for instead of lots of time on fundraisers that are time-intensive relative to what they raise. We also responded whenever possible to teacher requests for art or science materials, sent in coats and clothes to the school social worker to distribute, donated extra school supplies, etc.

Related question. I read posts about how NA schools have enrichment and clubs and after school activities, whereas SA elementaries generally have social assistance programs and test prep, and pretty much nothing else. Is that actually true or just an exaggeration? Are those enrichment activities paid for and organized by the PTA/parents or is it based on how individual school decide to spend an allotment from the district?

The north Arlington elementary schools that I am familiar with offer enrichment classes that are sourced by enrichment coordinator volunteers, but the parents of kids taking the classes pay for them. The vendors offering the classes are independent of the schools. Volunteers oversee some things like chess and journalism clubs. In middle school there is some of this as well, but kids are also encouraged to come up with their own clubs and find a teacher who will agree to chaperone after school.

Thanks. Can you say more about enrichment coordinator volunteers? Who they are, what they do?

At the beginning of the school year, or end of the previous one, the pta sends out emails requesting volunteers for various positions, including enrichment coordinator. I don’t know everything that is involved with position, but they find vendors, match them with a space in the school, advertise the offerings to parents and organize the sign up and payment process.

This is exactly how it works at our SA elementary. The problem is that they might arrange 7-8 possible enrichment courses each semester, but only half of them get filled. I assume some of the lower-income families either can't afford the cost outright, or can't make the transportation arrangements, since there is no late bus service. This is one downside of our otherwise excellent school.

So if they don't get filled, the class doesn't happen? Mind saying which school? Would like to help.

How much are these activities?

Not that poster, but at our SA school enrichment programs range from $80 (Chess ) to almost $300 (magic)

Anonymous wrote:We are at a S. Arlington school (although it is a choice school). We have a well run PTA IMO. Our school offers a lot of enrichment classes (maybe 8 different options a day?). They are a mix of parent volunteers and private companies.

We have a lot of SAH moms in our PTA (or moms that work very part time). In fact, I feel like I am the odd one being a full time working mom. Also, I admit that I don't go to meetings, but I do volunteer and go to the events so I am not quite sure of the entire makeup of the PTA. We do hold PTA meetings in Spanish (I think every other meeting) so I think out PTA is at least somewhat diverse. I see this reflected in the volunteers at events.

It is odd to assume that SA doesn't have a lot of SAHPs.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to a Title I south Arlington elementary school. My theory was that, given the limited time my husband and I had to volunteer, we'd rather spend it doing things other than fundraising. We donated $500 a year to the PTA and spent our time doing actual activities (chaperoning field trips, working the book fair, doing set-up or clean-up for school events) that they needed help for instead of lots of time on fundraisers that are time-intensive relative to what they raise. We also responded whenever possible to teacher requests for art or science materials, sent in coats and clothes to the school social worker to distribute, donated extra school supplies, etc.

Related question. I read posts about how NA schools have enrichment and clubs and after school activities, whereas SA elementaries generally have social assistance programs and test prep, and pretty much nothing else. Is that actually true or just an exaggeration? Are those enrichment activities paid for and organized by the PTA/parents or is it based on how individual school decide to spend an allotment from the district?

The north Arlington elementary schools that I am familiar with offer enrichment classes that are sourced by enrichment coordinator volunteers, but the parents of kids taking the classes pay for them. The vendors offering the classes are independent of the schools. Volunteers oversee some things like chess and journalism clubs. In middle school there is some of this as well, but kids are also encouraged to come up with their own clubs and find a teacher who will agree to chaperone after school.

Thanks. Can you say more about enrichment coordinator volunteers? Who they are, what they do?

At the beginning of the school year, or end of the previous one, the pta sends out emails requesting volunteers for various positions, including enrichment coordinator. I don’t know everything that is involved with position, but they find vendors, match them with a space in the school, advertise the offerings to parents and organize the sign up and payment process.

This is exactly how it works at our SA elementary. The problem is that they might arrange 7-8 possible enrichment courses each semester, but only half of them get filled. I assume some of the lower-income families either can't afford the cost outright, or can't make the transportation arrangements, since there is no late bus service. This is one downside of our otherwise excellent school.

How much are these activities?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to a Title I south Arlington elementary school. My theory was that, given the limited time my husband and I had to volunteer, we'd rather spend it doing things other than fundraising. We donated $500 a year to the PTA and spent our time doing actual activities (chaperoning field trips, working the book fair, doing set-up or clean-up for school events) that they needed help for instead of lots of time on fundraisers that are time-intensive relative to what they raise. We also responded whenever possible to teacher requests for art or science materials, sent in coats and clothes to the school social worker to distribute, donated extra school supplies, etc.

Related question. I read posts about how NA schools have enrichment and clubs and after school activities, whereas SA elementaries generally have social assistance programs and test prep, and pretty much nothing else. Is that actually true or just an exaggeration? Are those enrichment activities paid for and organized by the PTA/parents or is it based on how individual school decide to spend an allotment from the district?

The north Arlington elementary schools that I am familiar with offer enrichment classes that are sourced by enrichment coordinator volunteers, but the parents of kids taking the classes pay for them. The vendors offering the classes are independent of the schools. Volunteers oversee some things like chess and journalism clubs. In middle school there is some of this as well, but kids are also encouraged to come up with their own clubs and find a teacher who will agree to chaperone after school.

Thanks. Can you say more about enrichment coordinator volunteers? Who they are, what they do?

At the beginning of the school year, or end of the previous one, the pta sends out emails requesting volunteers for various positions, including enrichment coordinator. I don’t know everything that is involved with position, but they find vendors, match them with a space in the school, advertise the offerings to parents and organize the sign up and payment process.

This is exactly how it works at our SA elementary. The problem is that they might arrange 7-8 possible enrichment courses each semester, but only half of them get filled. I assume some of the lower-income families either can't afford the cost outright, or can't make the transportation arrangements, since there is no late bus service. This is one downside of our otherwise excellent school.